March 20

March 20 is the 79th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (80th in Leap years). There are 286 days remaining.

Events

• 1413 - Henry V becomes King of England.
• 1602 - The Dutch East India Company is established.
• 1739 - Nadir Shah occupies Delhi in India and sacks the city stealing the jewels of the Peacock Throne.
• 1760 - The "Great Fire" of Boston destroys 349 buildings.
• 1815 - Napoleon enters Paris after escaping from Elba with a regular army of 140,000 and a volunteer force of around 200,000 beginning his "Hundred Days" rule.
• 1848 - King Ludwig I of Bavaria abdicates.
• 1852 - Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin is published.
• 1883 - Signature of Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property.
• 1899 - At Sing Sing prison, Martha M. Place becomes the first woman executed in an electric chair.
• 1904 - Aleister Crowley invokes Horus in Egypt and declares the start of the New Aeon known as the Aeon Of The Crowned And Conquering Child.
• 1913 - Sung Chiao-jen, a founder of the Chinese nationalist party (KMT), is wounded in an assassination attempt and dies 2 days later.
• 1914 - In New Haven, Connecticut the first international figure skating championship takes place.
• 1916 - Albert Einstein publishes his theory of relativity.
• 1922 - The USS Langley is commissioned as the first United States Navy aircraft carrier.
• 1933 - Dachau, the first Nazi concentration camp, is completed.
• 1952 - The United States Senate ratifies a peace treaty with Japan.
• 1956 - Tunisia gains independence from France.
• 1964 - The precursor of the European Space Agency, ESRO (European Space Research Organization) is established per an agreement signed on June 14, 1962.
• 1966 - The World Cup is stolen from Central Hall, London
• 1969 - Marriage of John Lennon and Yoko Ono
• 1974 - A failed kidnap attempt is made on Her Royal Highness Princess Anne and her husband Captain Mark Phillips in The Mall, outside Buckingham Palace, London.
• 1976 - Patty Hearst is found guilty of armed robbery of a San Francisco Bank.
• 1979 - REXX programming language created
• 1985 - Libby Riddles becomes the first woman to win the 1,135-mile Iditarod dog sled race.
• 1986 - Jacques Chirac becomes Prime Minister of France
• 1987 - The Food and Drug Administration approves anti-AIDS drug AZT.
• 1990 - Ferdinand Marcos's widow, Imelda Marcos, goes on trial for bribery, embezzlement, and racketeering.
• 1993 - An Irish Republican Army bomb explodes in Warrington, North West England, killing two children.
• 1995 - Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway
• 1996 - In Los Angeles, California, Erik and Lyle Menendez are found guilty of first-degree murder for the shotgun killing of their parents.
• 2000 - Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin, a former Black Panther, is captured after gun battle that left a sheriff's deputy dead.
• 2003 - 2003 invasion of Iraq: In the early hours of the morning, the United States and three other countries begin military operations in Iraq.
• 2004 - Millions worldwide protest the 2003 Iraq War under the slogan, "The World STILL Says No To War!"

Births

• 43 BC - Ovid, poet, (d. 17/18)
• 1770 - Friedrich Hölderlin, German poet, novelist, and dramatist, (d. 1843)
• 1811 - Napoleon II of France, (d. 1832)
• 1823 - Ned Buntline, "dime novelist", publisher, writer, publicist, (d. 1886)
• 1828 - Henrik Ibsen, playwright and dramatist, (d. 1906)
• 1831 - Solomon L. Spink, U.S. Congressman from Illinois (d. 1881)
• 1834 - Charles W. Eliot, President of Harvard University, (d. 1926)
• 1856 - Frederick Winslow Taylor, inventor, efficiency expert, (d. 1915)
• 1870 - Paul Erich von Lettow-Vorbeck, German general (d. 1964)
• 1874 - Börries von Münchhausen, poet, (d. 1945)
• 1890 - Beniamino Gigli, tenor, (d. 1957)
• 1890 - Lauritz Melchior, opera singer, (d. 1973)
• 1895 - Fredric Wertham, Psychologist (d. 1981)
• 1897 - Mother Ruby Muhammad, matriarch of Black Islam
• 1904 - B. F. Skinner, behavioral psychologist, (d. 1990)
• 1906 - Ozzie Nelson, actor, band leader, (d. 1975)
• 1908 - Sir Michael Redgrave, actor, (d. 1985)
• 1915 - Rudolf Kirchschläger, Austrian President, (d. 2000)
• 1917 - Dame Vera Lynn, actress, singer
• 1921 - Rudolf Noelte, film director, (d. 2002)
• 1921 - Sister Rosetta Tharpe, singer, (d. 1973)
• 1922 - Carl Reiner, director, producer, actor, comedian
• 1928 - Fred Rogers, children's television host, (d. 2003)
• 1934 - Willie Brown, mayor of San Francisco, California
• 1937 - Jerry Reed, country musician
• 1939 - Brian Mulroney, eighteenth Prime Minister of Canada
• 1948 - John de Lancie, actor (Star Trek: The Next Generation, Voyager)
• 1948 - Bobby Orr, ice hockey player
• 1950 - William Hurt, actor
• 1957 - Spike Lee, film director, actor
• 1958 - Holly Hunter, actress
• 1962 - Stephen Sommers, film director
• 1963 - Kathy Ireland, supermodel and actress
• 1964 - Natacha Atlas, Belgian singer
• 1964 - Tracy Chapman, musician
• 1974 - Michael Cameron
• 1974 - Paula Garces, actress
• 1974 - Andrzej Pilipiuk, Polish writer
• 1976 - Chester Bennington, musician ("Linkin Park")
• 1982 - Moreira, football player
• 1986 - Winta, Norwegian pop star
• 1990 - Cory Patton, Internationally recognized leader in the battle against Polio

Deaths

• 1413 - King Henry IV of England, (b. 1367)
• 1568 - Albert of Prussia, first duke of Prussia, (b. 1490)
• 1727 - Sir Isaac Newton, physicist, (b. 1642)
• 1855 - Joseph Aspdin, inventor of Portland cement (b. 1788)
• 1925 - George Nathaniel Curzon (Lord Curzon), British statesman, (b. 1859)
• 1926 - Princess Louise of Sweden, (b. 1929)
• 1934 - Queen Regent Emma of the Netherlands, (b. 1858)
• 1974 - Chet Huntley, television journalist
• 1990 - Lev Yashin, Soviet football goalkeeper
• 1997 - Tony Zale, Boxer, (b. 1913)
• 2000 - Gene Eugene, actor, singer, (b. 1961)
• 2004 - Queen Juliana of the Netherlands, (b. 1909)

Holidays and observances

• The vernal equinox usually occurs on this day.
• The second day of Quinquatria in ancient Rome, held in honor of Minerva.
• New Year of Iranian Calendar: Norouz occurs on the vernal equinox.
• Feast of St. Cuthbert, patron saint of Northumbria

Recorded this date

• 1901 "Zamona"(w. Frederic Ranken m. William Loraine) Metropolitan Orchestra
• 1903 "Meet Me When The Sun Goes Down"(w. Vincent Bryan m. Harry von Tilzer) William H. Thompson
• 1906 "The Moon Has His Eyes On You"(w. Billy Johnson m. Albert von Tilzer) Frank C. Stanley & Corinne Morgan
• 1909 "Yip-I-Addy-I-Ay!"(w. Will D. Cobb m. John H. Flynn) Blanche Ring O/Walter B. Rogers
• 1914 "The Eye Beneath The Busby"(Kemble) Peter Dawson
• 1914 "Contraband"(Geehl) Peter Dawson
• 1914 "A Sailor's Paradise"(Richards) Peter Dawson
• 1914 "Remember"(Phipson) Peter Dawson
• 1917 "Farewell In The Desert"(Adams) Peter Dawson
• 1922 "Nola"(m. Felix Arndt) Vincent Lopez & his Orchestra
• 1924 "It Had To Be You"(w. Gus Kahn m. Isham Jones) Sam Lanin & his Orchestra
• 1928 "Empty Bed Blues"(w.m. J. C. Johnson) Bessie Smith
• 1929 "My Troubles Are Over"(w. Edgar Leslie m. James V. Monaco, Ed Leslie) Sunshine Boys (Joe & Dan Mooney)
• 1930 "Exactly Like You"(w. Dorothy Fields m. Jimmy McHugh) Irving Kaufman Jack Albin & his Orchestra
• 1931 "Stomp Your Stuff"(Blythe) Alfred Bell State Street Ramblers
• 1933 "Jolly Old Ma, Jolly Old Pa"(Wallace) Leslie Sarony
• 1935 "Ah! Sweet Mystery Of Life"(w. Rida Johnson Young m. Victor Herbert) Jeanette MacDonald MGM Studio Orchestra cond. Herbert Stothart
• 1935 "Italian Street Song"(w. Rida Johnson Young m. Victor Herbert) Jeanette MacDonald O/Herbert Stothart
• 1935 "Streamline Strut"(Phillips) Ambrose & his Orchestra
• 1935 "Gertie, The Girl With The Gong"(Sonin, Munro) Elsie Carlisle & Sam Browne Ambrose & his Orchestra
• 1935 "Life Begins At Oxford Circus"(w.m. Horatio Nicholls) v. Chorus Jack Hylton & his Orchestra
• 1935 "I Believe In Miracles"(w. Sam Lewis m. Pete Wendling & George W. Meyer) Ken Tucker Jack Hylton & his Orchestra
• 1935 "She Wore A Little Jacket Of Blue" Billy Munn Jack Hylton & his Orchestra
• 1935 "Put On An Old Pair Of Shoes"(w.m. Billy Hill & Dedette Lee Hill) Sonny Farrar, Brian Lee & Ken Tucker Jack Hylton & his Orchestra
• 1936 "We Saw The Sea"(w.m. Irving Berlin) Peter Dawson
• 1936 "Get Happy"(w. Ted Koehler m. Harold Arlen) Benny Goodman & his Orchestra
• 1936 "I Know That You Know"(w. Anne Caldwell m. Vincent Youmans) Benny Goodman
• 1936 "Christopher Columbus"(w. Andy Razaf m. Leon Berry) Benny Goodman & his Orchestra
• 1936 "You're Not The Kind"(w.m. Will Hudson & Irving Mills) Ruth Gaylor Hudson- De Lange Orchestra
• 1936 "Organ Grinder's Swing"(w. Mitchell Parish & Irving Mills m. Will Hudson) Hudson- De Lange Orchestra
• 1936 "Saddle Your Blues To A Wild Mustang"(w.m. Buddy Bernier, Billy Reid & George Whiting) Peter Dawson
• 1936 "There'll Be No South"(Schertzinger) Peter Dawson
• 1938 "My Walking Stick"(w.m. Irving Berlin) Tony Martin Ray Noble & his Orchestra
• 1938 "Now It Can Be Told"(w.m. Irving Berlin) Tony Martin Ray Noble & his Orchestra
• 1938 "Love Walked In"(w. Ira Gershwin m. George Gershwin) Tommy Ryan Sammy Kaye & his Orchestra
• 1939 "Don't Worry 'Bout Me"(w. Ted Koehler m. Rube Bloom) Helen Humes Count Basie & his Orchestra
• 1939 "That Sly Old Gentleman"(w. Johnny Burke m. James V. Monaco) Harriet Hilliard Ozzie Nelson & his Orchestra
• 1939 "Our Love"(w.m. Larry Clinton, Buddy Bernier & Bob Emmerich) Mary Martin O/Ray Sinatra
• 1939 "Jeanie With The Light Brown Hair"(w. m. Stephen Collins Foster) Maxine Sullivan
• 1940 "No Name Jive"(m. Larry Wagner) Casa Loma Orchestra
• 1940 "Y'En A Un De Trop"(Édith Piaf, Marguerite Monnot) Édith Piaf
• 1940 "Let There Be Love"(w. Ian Grant m. Lionel Rand) Tommy Ryan Sammy Kaye & his Orchestra
• 1940 "Hear My Song, Violetta"(w. (Ger) Ermenegildo Carosio & Othmar Klose (Eng) Buddy Bernier & Bob Emmerich m. Rudolf Luckesch & Othmar Klose) Tony Martin O/Ray Sinatra
• 1941 "All That Meat And No Potatoes"(w.m. Fats Waller & Ed Kirkeby) Fats Waller & his Rhythm
• 1942 "Pistol Packin' Mama"(w.m. Al Dexter) Al Dexter Al Dexter & his Troopers
• 1942 "The White Cliffs Of Dover"(w. Nat Burton m. Walter Kent) Vera Lynn O/Mantovani
• 1946 "Ma Blushin' Rosie"(w. Edgar Smith m. John Stromberg) Al Jolson
• 1946 "You Made Me Love You"(w. Joseph McCarthy m. James V. Monaco) Al Jolson
• 1946 "My Mammy"(w. Sam M. Lewis & Joe Young m. Walter Donaldson) Al Jolson
• 1947 "The Stars Will Remember (So Will I)"(w.m. Don Pelosi & Leo Towers) Monte Rey O/Eddie Griffiths
• 1949 "Wedding Bells"(w.m. Claude Boone) Hank Williams
• 1951 "We Kiss In A Shadow"(w. Oscar Hammerstein II m. Richard Rodgers) Perry Como O/Mitchell Ayres
• 1951 "Hello, Young Lovers"(w. Oscar Hammerstein II m. Richard Rodgers) Perry Como O/Mitchell Ayres
• 1951 "Too Young"(w. Sylvia Dee m. Sidney Lippman) Patty Andrews O/Victor Young
• 1955 "Experience Unnecessary"(w.m. Gladys Shelley, Hugo Peretti & Luigi Creatore) Sarah Vaughan O/Hugo Peretti
• 1957 "Hula Love"(adapt. Buddy Knox) Buddy Knox
• 1958 "The Day You Left Me"(Cindy Walker) Eddy Arnold
• 1961 "Day By Day"(w. Sammy Cahn m. Paul Weston & Axel Stordahl) Frank Sinatra O/Billy May
• 1961 "Hello, Mary Lou"(w.m. Gene Pitney) Ricky Nelson
• 1961 "On The Sunny Side Of The Street"(w. Dorothy Fields m. Jimmy McHugh) Frank Sinatra O/Billy May
• 1961 "Sentimental Journey"(w. Bud Green m. Les Brown & Ben Homer) Frank Sinatra O/Billy May
• 1961 "Don't Take Your Love From Me"(w.m. Henry Nemo) Frank Sinatra O/Billy May
• 1963 "Abilene"(w.m. John D. Loudermilk, Lester Brown, Bob Gibson, Albert Stanton) George Hamilton IV
• 1967 "Who?"(w. Otto Harbach & Oscar Hammerstein II m. Jerome Kern) Jo Stafford (as Darlene Edwards) p. Paul Weston (as Jonathan Edwards)
• 1967 "The Varsity Drag"(w. B. G. de Sylva & Lew Brown m. Ray Henderson) Jo Stafford (as Darlene Edwards) p. Paul Weston (as Jonathan Edwards)
• 1967 "Carioca"(w. Gus Kahn & Edward Eliscu m. Vincent Youmans) Jo Stafford (as Darlene Edwards) p. Paul Weston (as Jonathan Edwards)
• 1967 "Button Up Your Overcoat"(w. B.G. DeSylva & Lew Brown m. Ray Henderson) Jo Stafford (as Darlene Edwards) p. Paul Weston (as Jonathan Edwards)
• 1967 "Moonlight On The Ganges"(w. Chester Wallace m. Sherman Myers) Jo Stafford (as Darlene Edwards) p. Paul Weston (as Jonathan Edwards)
• 1967 "I Wanna Be Loved By You"(w. Bert Kalmar m. Harry Ruby & Herbert Stothart) Jo Stafford (as Darlene Edwards) p. Paul Weston (as Jonathan Edwards)
• 1967 "Crazy Words, Crazy Tune"(w. Jack Yellen m. Milton Ager) Jo Stafford (as Darlene Edwards) p. Paul Weston (as Jonathan Edwards)
• 1969 "A Man Alone"(Rod McKuen) Frank Sinatra O/Don Costa
• 1969 "Love's Been Good To Me"(w.m. Rod McKuen) Frank Sinatra O/Don Costa

---

March 19 - March 21 - February 20 - April 20 -- listing of all days